By Anne Brodie Jan 22, 2010, 8:13 GMT
Dwayne Johnson in a tutu and wings, tossing fairy dust, shrinking down to a cute 2” to make children’s dreams come true? Not the most promising premise for a film for those over three. But the terrific surprise is that Tooth Fairy is terrific. It’s witty and wise, sly and hilarious fit for man and mite. It is what you’d least expect, frankly, and is therefore a joy. Tooth Fairy is a welcome escape from the terrible news and bad weather that has plagued us for weeks now.
Johnson plays Derek Thompson, a star hockey player known as the Tooth Fairy for knocking players’ teeth from their heads. He’s dating Carly (Ashley Judd), a single mother of two adorable tykes. But Derek’s in a funk because his career is threatened by a young blood player who calls him “Pops”. In a moment of anger and frustration, he dashes a fan’s dreams of hockey stardom with an aggressively unpeppy pep-talk. And then he tells Carly’s little girl there is no Tooth Fairy after stealing her tooth stash for gambling. The Department of Dissemination of Disbelief summons him to Fairy Land where he is sentenced to serve as a tooth fairy for a week for killing kids dreams.
Enter Julie Andrews as the Fairy Godmother who doesn’t like his sassy ways. She tries to slap him into shape with a stern lecture and look, but he seems immune to change. Derek grates at the things he has to do and wear, but he has little choice in the matter. On his first assignment to pick up his supplies in the Tooth Fairy basement he meets a sprightly old man who tells him what’s what. It’s Billy Crystal in an uncredited and gut bustingly funny part that is sure to land on YouTube.
Former WWE superstar Johnson has created a singular niche for himself following his exit from the wrestling ring. He’s easy going, likeable and bold enough to don tights and bubbles on film, and he has the ability to deliver lines with great, warm gusto. Even iffy ones. There are none here, pleased to say. In fact, Johnson’s comic delivery is surprisingly accurate, with great writing backing him.
Julie Andrews relishes her role as the Fairy Godmother who ever so nicely kicks Derek’s rear and rewards him when he turns the corner with one of her dazzling, iconic smiles. Her extraordinary persona perfectly suits the role, in what was obviously a no brainer casting decision. She is radiant, and still your favourite screen auntie. Stay for the closing credits for more treats from Andrews.
The children (Chase Ellison and Destiny Whitlock) are appealing and non-sticky, and Ashley Judd brings it down to earth as an ordinary suburban mom trying to keep it together.
The core team is joined by memorable character actors giving completely hilarious, non ironic performance as fairies, like Stephen Merchant as Derek’s fairy handler and Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane who has an amusing cameo as a ‘stuff’ pedlar, who hooks our hero in buying substandard invisibility powder, shrinking paste, and fairy dust.
Director Michael Lembeck enjoyed a successful career as a comic actor on television and in film, and clearly a special gift for directing light comedies.
35mm comedyWritten by Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel, et alDirected by Michael LembeckOpens: Jan 22Runtime: 101 minutesMPAA: Rated PG for mild language, some rude humor, and sports actionCountry: USA / CanadaLanguage: English
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